Weight Loss in Children

DirrtyH

I did a search and I found plenty of threads about losing weight when you have children, but has anyone had to deal with how to help a child lose weight? I live with my sister and her kids. I don't have kids of my own, but I've been there since my niece was a baby so I feel like an extra parent to her. She's 5 years old and over the last year has put on a lot of weight. She's already noticing that people treat her differently. Last night she told us that she didn't want to eat dinner because she wanted to be skinny.

How do you help a child that young lose weight and learn healthy habits without turning her into a total head case?

careyharv

For my kids I think the best way to do this is lead by example. My son has lost weight this last year because we started cutting out the bad food in the house. We would offer him better snacks to eat and control how much he eats. The same applied to us.

Also, get them outside and play. They don't have to "work-out" like the adults do. Take them for a bike ride or a walk around the neighborhood. If they don't realize it is exercise, they wont become a head case.